# That numeric verb thing again.

H. Peter Anvin (hpa@trantor.storm.net)
Mon, 19 Feb 1996 12:24:50 PST

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    In article <01BAFED5.917D3120@phoenix.clawpaw.com>,
    Ron Stanions <chaeon@roc.clawpaw.com> wrote:
    >
    >The first and biggest is with .program.  pre 1.8.0, .program #123:foo
    >or .program #123:3 would access the same verb.  now, in 1.8.0 it
    >becomes 'safe' to create a verb named "3", but now which verb does
    >.program #123:3 refer to, the third verb, or the verb named "3" ?
    >The syntax for .program will have to change somewhat.
    >

    I suggest using the already-unambiguous MOOcode syntax:

    object:verb OK iff verb doesn't contain " ( )
    object:("verb") otherwise
    object:(verbno) for verb numbers

    >Secondly, a lot of verbs that work off of verbnames expect a string
    >argument, and it's a lot easier to write verbs for verbs when you
    >always know there's gonna be a string argument. Now, many of those
    >verbs that expects a verbname 'should' be modified to deal with a
    >possible numeric argument.

    It's a lot of work to change a preexisting db over to the "clean"
    solution.  That's why a compatibility option has been provided.

    	-hpa
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